No regrets despite McLaren crisis - Perez

Mar.21 (GMM) Sergio Perez insists he has no regrets about joining a McLaren team in crisis.

The young Mexican admitted on Thursday that when he signed to replace Lewis Hamilton for 2013, he expected to be seated in a highly competitive silver car.

"I thought I would be fighting for the front rows but we are far from there," Perez is quoted by the AP news agency in Malaysia.

Even so, the 23-year-old said he has no regrets.

"If they would have told me before I signed I would be in this position, I would have signed (anyway)," he said.

"I prefer hundred times to be in this position with McLaren than with any other team and winning."

Perez said he has confidence McLaren can emerge from its slump, even though leading team figures Martin Whitmarsh and Jenson Button have said it could take some time.

Reviving the competitive 2012 car has been touted as one possible solution, and Perez sounded open to the idea.

"I think the (new) car has potential and we have to try to understand and take the maximum out of it," he said. "But we want to win this year and we will do anything in our hearts to go back to winning."

Sporting boss Sam Michael, however, said the focus at the moment is on the MP4-28, even though he hinted radical changes could be on the way by actually referring to the car during a media teleconference as the "28A".

"That (developing the 2013 car) is what we think will offer us the best chance over the course of the season and at this point in time that's where all our efforts are going," he added.